The subject of mattresses may not sound very fascinating. In fact, like most people, you may not even think about them at all. Did you know that we spend a third of our lives in bed? That is about 33 years, 12,045 days, or 289 hours. That is an enormous amount of time spent in a place that we may not know a lot about.
The mattress, big or small contains a mass amount of secrets and interesting facts. Curious to find out what it is keeping from you? Check out these five facts you may not know about your mattress, but may help you immensely in the future.
1. Mattress vs. Fire
Mattresses sold in the United States are made to withstand open flames for up to 70 seconds. As of 2007, all mattresses must contain fire retardant materials. In fact, they can withstand a two-foot wide blowtorch for up to 70 seconds.
2. Flip Your Mattress
Although it depends on the type of mattress you have, you should flip, or rotate, your mattress anywhere from every four months to once a year. The goal of healthy sleeping is aligning your spine and that doesn't happen when your mattress is uneven from normal wear. Flipping or rotating can also enhance and prolong the use of your mattress.
If you have an older, inner-spring mattress, flipping your mattress over is ideal. However, if you own a newer, pillow-top mattress, rotating will suffice to even out the wear and tear.
3. How To Keep Your Mattress Clean
Although dust mites in mattresses and pillows are virtually unavoidable, they are also harmless and can be found in the cleanest of homes. Seeing as they exist, however, is a great idea to clean your mattress periodically for good hygiene. Similarly, mites can be cleaned out of pillows and sheets. While sheets can just be washed in hot water, removing mites from pillows and mattresses can tend to take a little longer.
According to Consumer Reports, there are generally two different ways to clean pillows. To kill all dust mites, cleaning can be as simple as sealing your pillow in a plastic bag and putting it in the freezer for 24-49 hours. Depending on the type and care label, pillows can also be washed in a washing machine without an agitator. These can be found in front-loader machines. To dry, stick them in the dryer on moderate to low heat for an hour to an hour and a half. Include a few dry towels and two tennis balls to make sure the stuffing inside the pillow doesn’t clump up.
As far as mattresses go, there are a few different cleaning options. These techniques are specific to mattress type. For a regular fabric/spring mattress, you can mix one cup of baking soda along with a few drops of lavender essential oil (optional, but it smells great). Spread this all over your bare mattress and let it sit for up to an hour. Using a hose attachment, vacuum up the baking soda mixture. For memory foam mattresses, it is best to call a professional.
4. Lifespan of a mattress
While flipping and rotating your mattress can add years to your mattress life, it is still important to replace your mattress every 10 years or so. As discussed in point two, your mattress loses its shape due to regular wear and tear. Rotating or flipping can help initially, but over time, just evens out the wear, consequently deforming your mattress over the 10-year span. A deformed mattress is awful for your health and can lead to back pain and sleeping problems.
There are other factors that impact the lifespan of a mattress as well. It goes without saying that frequency of use affects the wear and tear of a mattress. Body weight and putting heavy objects on a mattress can also shorten the lifespan almost in half. Activity like eating or drinking can damage a mattress as spillage can deteriorate the materials inside. Lastly, regular cleaning can prolong the lifespan of your mattress. In fact, cleaning your mattress once a year can add years onto its life.
Need a new mattress? Wholesale Mattress Center can help. Here, you will find the largest selection of mattresses in the area, and an extensive collection of furniture to rival any of the national retailers. We offer a widespread amount of brands including but not limited to: Tempur-Pedic, Sealy, Simmons, Beautyrest and Stearns & Foster. We also offer a delivery service that extends throughout Lee County and beyond.
Our expert knowledge of sleep technology and our second-to-none customer service are the qualities that truly set us apart. We can help you find the perfect choice for your sleep comfort at any price range. To learn more, visit our Wholesale Mattress Center website or get in touch with us at (334)-821-0558!
